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Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development

Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.

Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Origin

The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining